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Dear friend,
This is the latest LGA Liberal Democrat weekly update on Covid-19 for Liberal Democrat councillors. Sadly, this week brought news of the first deaths in the local government family. Putting aside politics these deaths are a great loss and our thoughts are with their families, friends, and colleagues who will all be affected by this news.
It’s been a difficult few weeks. The heartening ‘Clap for Carers’ last week was a reminder of the tireless work of health and social care workers across the country who are protecting residents in need. Please continue to encourage residents to ‘Stay at Home, Save Lives’ in support of our key workers who cannot do so. This will be particularly important this weekend as warmer weather is forecasted and there are concerns that social distancing will be breached.
Councils continue to do immense work in combatting coronavirus and protecting communities, not helped by some poor attempts at micro-management from Whitehall. There was also a good article by Richard Vize in last Fridays Guardian that set out just some of the many ways in which councils are leading in their areas.
I was also pleased to see Councillor Keith Aspden, who is our Leader on the City of York, talking about the work of local government is fighting the covid-19 crisis on LibDem Voice - both are must reads.
Thank you for everything that you are doing, and I hope you are all keeping well during these uncertain times.
Best wishes,
Councillor Ruth Dombey OBE
Deputy Leader
LGA Liberal Democrat Group
Coronavirus news from Liberal Democrat Councils & Councillors
Liberal Democrat councils and councillors have all been doing extraordinary things in recent weeks to support their communities. Just a few examples we spotted from the last week:
Here is a great article from Hull Councillor Jack Haines about the work him and his colleagues have been doing about contacting the vulnerable in Hull.
Cornwall Council where we are part of a coalition have launched a package of support for families to ensure emotional health and wellbeing of all students, staff and parents during the Covid-19 crisis whilst they are at home:
St Albans & Hertfordshire County Councillor Chris White is sending out a regular email to his division which has had some really positive feed back on, details here https://chriswhite.mycouncillor.org.uk/2020/03/27/st-albans-central-news-march-2020/
The Liberal Democrat cabinet on Chelmsford City Council did a Q&A session on facebook which was really popular www.facebook.com/ChelmsCouncil/
Shropshire Liberal Democrats have been doing some great work in rural communities which includes a non-political letter and signposting Focus which has been posted to remote villages. They have emailed it out to all the contacts they had on connect, posted on facebook and other social media sites and emailed out. Deliberately without the logo.
They have been working with communities to publicise, deliver services etc. e.g. doing meals on wheels, manning and setting up food banks, signposting, keeping in touch with businesses and supporting them. They’ve produced posters with local farmers to address the massive increase in the countryside of the public using rights of ways promoting good behaviour, ensure that dogs aren’t worrying sheep, and not putting farm workers at risk during lambing session.
Kent Liberal Democrats have campaigned on the financial plight of our hospices: https://kentlibdems.org.uk/en/article/2020/1356407/government-must-ensure-that-hospices-are-given-vital-financial-support
Sutton’s Liberal Democrat Council has introduced an emergency decision making procedure to ensure there is cross-party participation in the decisions the council make.
Liberal Democrat lead Colchester have had a council sponsored leaflet delivered to every home you can see an example of it here: www.colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus/residents/community-support/
We will continue to use this bulletin to highlight the brilliant work that Liberal Democrat councils, groups, and councillors are doing all over the country in relation to Covid-19 – so if you want your local work included, please send it through to rob.banks@local.gov.uk.
Coronavirus news from the LGA
Coronavirus: LGA responds to Government bus funding announcement
LGA responds to Sport England funding support package
LGA responds to Government announcement on building safety
Coronavirus: Business rates relief for the hospitality and leisure sector
Coronavirus: Local Government and Arts Council England launch collaboration to support cultural organisations
Coronavirus support funding reaching businesses – LGA statement
Coronavirus: LGA responds to food vouchers announcement for young people from low-income families
Coronavirus: Bus services taking health and care staff to work need rescue package
Letter to Secretary of State Matt Hancock from the LGA and ADASS demanding action on PPE
Coronavirus: LGA urges end to 'unacceptable' attacks on council staff
Liberal Democrats in the National Press
The HQ press team dose a weekly round ups of press coverage and we thought we would share some of this with you after Council Leaders and Group Leaders shared some frustrations about the party getting poor national coverage in the press. Rest assured they are trying
It's increasingly hard to get into the stories, especially during recess, when everything is focussed on the government’s response to the crisis and the prime ministers health. And 50% of HQ staff have been furloughed
Council meetings can now be held online & good practice hub details
Councils in England have been given new powers to hold public meetings virtually by using video or telephone conferencing technology from Saturday 4 April 2020. Using powers granted in the Coronavirus Act, the government has temporarily removed the legal requirement for local authorities to hold public meetings in person during the coronavirus pandemic. This will enable councillors to make effective and transparent decisions on the delivery of services for residents without putting themselves or others at risk of spreading the virus.
The LGA has also launched an information hub on good practice in the sector.
Council governance and scrutiny during Covid-19
Many councils have been forced to make changes to how decisions are made as a result of social distancing measures. Some councillors have raised concerns about how good governance and robust scrutiny can be maintained, and helpfully the Centre for Public Scrutiny have developed a programme of support with the LGA for councils and councillors on governance and scrutiny in relation to Covid-19. It's not perfect in many ways but is a start.
Covid-19 data in your area
The LGA’s excellent ‘LG Inform’ site, which carries a wealth of local government related data, is now carrying Covid-19 data at a local authority level (single-tier/upper-tier only, the data is not released at a district council level). You can view it here.
Train companies to offer free travel to those fleeing domestic abuse/domestic violence - advice
Caroline Pidgeon, who is the Liberal Democrat Leader on the London Assembly and vice chair of their Transport committee, who has let us know that train companies - in a joint initiative with Women’s Aid - announced free travel to all those fleeing domestic abuse anywhere in Britain during the ongoing Coronavirus lockdown.
We hope that you might be able to share this initiative on your own platforms, or with those on the frontline in your constituency to make sure that those who need it most, are aware of this support.
The commitment from rail companies comes as campaigners report a rise in requests for help from victims of domestic abuse since the COVID-19 lockdown measures come into force last month, and will see train operators cover the cost of train tickets for anyone applying for free train travel to refuge accommodation. This industry-wide scheme follows the successful launch, prior to the Coronavirus outbreak, of similar initiatives by Southeastern and GWR which have already helped a number of people, and their children, escape domestic abuse and begin a new life away from their perpetrator.
Those suffering from domestic abuse are usually advised to seek refuge services at a considerable distance from their perpetrator, but for many, raising the cash to pay for a train ticket can be very difficult. This is especially true for people experiencing economic abuse, who may have no access to cash.
The ‘Rail to refuge’ scheme aims to remove this barrier by offering free train tickets for women and men, and their children, to travel to a recognised refuge. From today, survivors can access these tickets through the member services of Women’s Aid Federation of England, Welsh Women’s Aid, Scottish Women’s Aid and Imkaan, once they have received an offer of a refuge place. Members of these organisations can book the tickets via a bespoke booking system for the people they are referring to, or receiving in, their refuge accommodation. The nationwide ‘rail to refuge’ scheme will be in place for approximately 12 weeks, or for the length of the lockdown.
For further details, please read RDG’s full press release here.
There has also been widespread concern that domestic violence may increase during the lockdown period. The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance has created guidance for housing providers which includes recognising and responding to survivors of domestic abuse. There is also updated information from the Home Office about support for victims.
Changes made to the Care Act – what you should know
The Coronavirus Act 2020 gave ministers the power to relax some aspects of the Care Act, which triggered significant concerns about the undermining of key entitlements to care and support from some charities and groups representing people with disabilities. The changes have now been made which allow authorities to prioritise resources if necessary should they be unable to meet their statutory duties in full should demand spike and staffing resources shrink significantly as the Covid-19 pandemic reaches its peak. The Department of Health and Social Care has published their changes to the Care Act 2014 with details on what the ‘easements’ mean for local authorities.
Schools during the Easter holiday period
We know many of you are school governors and will already be aware but the guidance for schools about temporarily closing has been updated by the Department for Education, with new information on funding for schools that remain open over the Easter holidays – further details on this will be published shortly – staffing levels and deployment, holidays, school meals, exams and special schools. It confirms that schools should be open over Easter for vulnerable pupils as well as the children of critical workers.
Sport England releases funding for local groups
Sport England has made up to £195m of funding available to help the community sport and physical activity sector through the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, including a £20 million Community Emergency Fund which will be opened immediately for local clubs and community organisations to bid into. Grants between £300 and £10,000 are available – direct your local groups to the Sport England website for information on how to apply.
Finding the latest advice on Covid-19
Councillors will often be approached as a trusted source of advice and guidance. It is vital that we only signpost constituents to official sources.
New important advice this week:
The Cabinet Office has published frequently asked questions and answers on what the public can and can’t do during the outbreak. This includes advice on attending medical appointments, essential work, visiting friends and relatives, helping vulnerable people, moving house, driving to green spaces and enforcement
New information about how GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications will be graded and awarded this summer has been published.
Public Health England has published new guidance on the use of PPE by health and social care workers.
Standing sources of advice:
If residents are asking you for advice about what they should do in light of the Covid-19 outbreak, then they should visit the government’s site for the public which has all the information that the public should need about symptoms and risks of Covid-19, and the action to take.
The most comprehensive source of information is the main UK Government Covid-19 hub. The NHS also has a dedicated site for information on coronavirus, and the LGA’s Coronavirus hub is updated daily. Your own council should also have a dedicated section on its website (if it does not, you should raise this with your Chief Executive). If you want to receive instant (or daily round up) email updates from the Government about Covid-19 you can sign up to receive them directly.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance holds all the specific guidance produced by the government, including advice for households with possible coronavirus infection, employees, employers, and businesses, educational settings, hostels for rough sleepers, residential care settings and many others.
The Money Advice Service also has a helpful list of financial support available to people, which may be of interest to your constituents.
LGA advice and guidance for councillors
The LGA has produced specific Covid-19 guidance for councillors, to assist elected councillors as you grapple with the worst public health crisis we have experienced in a century. It is intended that this will be a living document that may need to be updated, with new guidance and changes highlighted as the situation develops.
Cancelled: LGA Annual Conference
A reminder that this year’s Annual Conference, due to take place in Harrogate in July 2020, has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Future Covid-19 updates
If there are issues you think we should try to include in future Covid-19 specific emails then please let us know – just reply to this email.
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